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The Infamous Mystery Means
Dear Mary: My husband has two jobs — he is an artist and a salesman. He earns commissions from both jobs, so we never know what our income will be. I work part-time and am paid hourly. How do we go about setting up a budget? — Carol, …Read more.
Handy Tools Ease the Pain
Manufactures have been making a name — and a profit — for themselves creating tools and gadgets to help consumers get a "better grip" on countless household tasks. And I'm not knocking it. But I love it when I don't have to …Read more.
Let the Decluttering Begin
I know it's time. It's been time for at least five years, possibly longer. I need to clean my kitchen. Now, before you send the Health Department to my address, let me explain. What I mean by "clean" is that I need to clean out and …Read more.
A Glimmer of Hope to Cling To
Think back to a low point in your life. Don't struggle with this, just try to recall when you were going through a difficult season and life seemed bleak. Now recall that first glimmer of hope you clung to as you could see that things were beginning …Read more.
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Reader Should Dump Expensive Credit CardDear Mary: I have a credit card that has an annual fee of $150. The card has no balance on it, and I never will use it again. Should I close the account? How low would my FICO score go if I did close it? Right now, my score is more than 800. I still owe $40,000 in credit card debt, and I have $200,000 of available credit. I am working very hard to pay this debt off and do not want to run the risk of interest rate hikes on existing accounts. — Bella, Texas Dear Bella: Close it. Immediately. That $150 annual fee is a total killer, and you do not need it. As credit scores go, it appears that you are in excellent shape, seeing as you have so much available credit. You don't say what the credit limit is on your "hog," but I am going to assume it's $20,000 or less. By dropping your available credit to $180,000, you still would be using only 22 percent of it with the $40,000 balance. Dear Mary: What is a lower-cost alternative to buying expensive face care products from department stores? Perfectionist, by Estée Lauder, is a favorite product of mine. Is there an equivalent that costs less? — Christy, e-mail Dear Christy: Olay has developed an excellent line of skin care products. The products are getting rave reviews by users and dermatologists alike. Purchase them from a drugstore, such as Rite Aid, that has a no-questions-asked return policy on cosmetics and beauty products.
Dear Mary: Do you have advice for finding affordable dry cleaning? My daughters wore dresses that are dry-clean-only for my brother's wedding. Because of the beadwork, the cleaners would charge $35. Two cleanings would add up to more than what the dresses cost. Do you have any at-home cleaning tips for dry-clean-only garments? — Sheila P., e-mail Dear Sheila: Have you shopped around to compare the prices of other dry cleaners? I don't know whether I ever have heard of an item costing $35 to dry-clean. There are home dry-cleaning kits available that you use in an ordinary clothes dryer, but if these dresses are heavily beaded, that might not work. I am inclined to suggest you skip the cleaning altogether. Hang the dresses outdoors to air, and then dispose of or store them as you had planned on doing all along. Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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